It’s now two years and five months since Wizkid’s award-winning song, ‘Ojuelegba’, changed his life and career.
‘I knew it was a good song, but I didn’t expect it to blow up the way that it did,’ he told The FADER Magazine.
‘Ojuelegba’ is off the Nigerian pop singer’s self-titled second studio album, ‘Ayo’, released on September 17, 2014.
Clarence Peters directed the visual of the song written by Wizkid and produced by Legendary Beatz.
The video released on January 5, 2015 portrayed his grass to grace story from Surulere, Lagos and that was when it became a global hit.
American singer, Alicia Keys and her music producer-husband, Swizz Beatz was later seen ‘vibing’ to the song while chilling in videos they shared online.
International artistes including, Sarkodie, Skepta and Drake later did their versions of the song.
Nigeria-born UK rapper Skepta had played the track for Drake while he was out in the UK for Wireless festival and 72 hours later the remix was made available for the world.
‘I just did it because I was in the moment. I wasn’t thinking like, ‘Oh man, I gotta get my brand up in Nigeria. Not to say that’s not important. I’m super-honored to be on that song,’ Drake told FADER on the Ojuelegba remix in 2015.
Since then, Wizkid became an international brand and has collaborated with musicians including Drake on ‘One Dance’, Chris Brown – with whom he went on a UK tour -, Tinie Tempah , Justin Skye, French Montana and Trey Songz.
He’s also promised music collaborations with Alicia Keys, Sean Paul and more.
Wizkid, following his international lead, received his first ever Grammy nomination for the 59th awards ceremony that took place on Sunday, February 12 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
The Nigeria singer was nominated in the Album of the Year category as a featured artiste and producer on Drake’s fourth studio album, Views.
British music star Adele won in the category for her 25 album, beating Justin Bieber‘s Purpose, Sturgill Simpson‘s A Sailor’s Guide To Earth, and Beyonce‘s Lemonade.
The Surulere-born singer may have lost the award, but he’s celebrated for joining legendary musicians, Femi Kuti and King Sunny Ade in the league of Nigerians who have received Grammy nominations.
Wizkid is presently the most popular African musician, and it’s safe to say the successes of his hit song ‘Ojuelegba’ undeniably bestowed him a place amongst world’s biggest music stars.
His ‘One Dance’ collaboration with Drake and the SONY Music deal he signed in 2016 proves he’s not leaving the global market anytime soon.
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